AlcoholAmphetaminesBenzodiazepinesCaffeineCannabis |
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CocaineCrackEcstasyGHBHallucinogens |
HeroinInhalantsKetamineMagic mushroomsLSD |
MethadoneMethamphetaminesRohypnolSteroids |
What are they? The human body has a natural hormone, adrenaline, which speeds up the central nervous system. It's what makes you react quickly to danger. Amphetamines are stimulants with a similar effect (as are cocaine, Ecstasy, caffeine and other drugs).
Seventy years ago you could buy amphetamines as an inhaler to clear your nose. They were also used to treat depressed and overweight people - until it was discovered how dangerous they were. (Sometimes today, under medical supervision, amphetamines can be used to calm hyperactive children).
What are they like?Pure amphetamine is a white powder and tastes bitter. Today almost all amphetamines are made illegally and can be of very different standards. Sometimes they come as a grey or pink powder, sometimes as crystals or chunks. They can smell of ammonia or fish. People use them by injecting, smoking, sniffing or in pill form. There is a form of the drug called methamphetamine which looks like rock salt or clear flakes of glass.
What do they do to you? The way people react to amphetamines depends on factors like age, health and how much and how often they are used. Users get an initial surge that lasts about a minute, but the other effects can go on for half a day - more if they keep taking the drug.
They can make people feel alert and confident, excited and powerful - or nervous, aggressive and having hallucinations. They increase the heart beat dramatically. Bigger amounts or overdosing can cause you to collapse, go into a coma or die.
Regular users can become used to the drug, which means they have to use more and more to get 'high'. That can lead to dependence on this and other drugs. Long term use of amphetamines can lead to severe physical problems, such as malnutrition from suppression of the appetite, and serious mental health difficulties.
The good news is that these symptoms often stop after a while if you give up using the drug.
What's the law? Class A if used for injecting: maximum sentence for possession is seven years jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
Class B if used in other ways: maximum sentence for possession is five years jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is 14 years jail plus an unlimited fine.
Also look at Methamphetamines
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What are they? Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs normally given by doctors to relieve anxiety and help people sleep. Taking them with other drugs can be dangerous.
What are they like? Most are tablets or capsules, in a variety of colours. A few are prepared in liquid form for injection.
What do they do to you? The way people react to benzodiazepines depends on factors like age, health and how much and how often they are used. Low doses can make you feel relaxed and calm; higher doses can help insomnia or severe emotional distress. The effects are usually felt within 30 minutes to four hours, depending on the type. It can take days or even weeks to get rid of these drugs from your body.
They can weaken your ability to remember things while you are taking them or make you drowsy or clumsy. Some people find that they produce side-effects such as confusion, depression or dizziness.
They are safe when taken for a few weeks or months, under medical supervision. They can affect your ability to drive safely or use equipment, and the older you are the more sensitive you are likely to be to the effects.
They are dangerous when taken with other drugs, particularly alcohol, heroin or methadone.
Some people find they become dependent on benzodiazepines and have to take larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect.
What's the law? Benzodiazepines are not illegal if prescribed by a doctor and used only by the person they are intended for. You should never take drugs prescribed for someone else.
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What is it? Cannabis or marijuana has many other commonly-used names, as well as terms for specific types. They all come from the hemp plant, grown for centuries in warm countries for industrial use.
What is it like? Marijuana consists of a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It is often smoked mixed with tobacco to make a joint (big cigarette), or in a pipe. Hash is blocks of resin made from the flowerheads. It can also be made into a drink.
Tests can trace it in the body weeks after it was used. There is a risk of cancer, even when it is not mixed with tobacco - one joint is the equivalent of about five cigarettes.
Of the 61 chemicals (called cannabinoids) in the drug, the one usually linked with being 'stoned' from smoking it is known as THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
What does it do to you? The way people react to cannabis depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Some people say it relaxes them and heightens awareness of colours and music - others dislike it because it makes them feel out of control. The feelings can start immediately and last for several hours; larger amounts can bring on feelings of panic.
Like alcohol, cannabis lowers your ability to judge distances and speeds and reduces reaction times - and it's even worse if you drink and take cannabis. It can affect your heart, your memory and balance.
Because it is produced illegally, it is often full of impurities which can cause hallucinations and other problems. Research is continuing to find out whether cannabis brings on schizophrenia or triggers schizophrenia already present in a person. Many symptoms recede quickly if you give up using.
What's the law? Class B.
The maximum prison sentence for possession of cannabis is five years and an unlimited fine.
Supplying or dealing is a much more serious offence and the maximum sentence is still 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? Cocaine comes from the coca plant. For centuries people in South America have used the leaves to numb pain. In the 19th century it was refined into an anaesthetic and some doctors also used it to treat depression and dependency on alcohol and other drugs.
What is it like?Cocaine comes in different forms. Drug gangs make huge amounts of money by producing it on a commercial scale and exporting it round the world. As a white powder it is snorted up the nose - or dissolved and injected. Some users mix it with heroin for injection. Others use a mixture of drugs at the same time - cocaine with alcohol plus marijuana.
A variation of cocaine is called Crack - see below.
What does it do to you? The way people react to cocaine depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. It is a stimulant, so some people feel excited, full of energy and self-confident. It is said to heighten sexual feelings in some people. Others can get twitchy, have panic attacks, suffer from hallucinations or feel that everyone is picking on them. This can lead to violence.
The cocaine 'high' does not last long. Users find they have to keep increasing the amount they take to get the same effect.
Cocaine is an extremely dangerous drug. It's easy for people to become dependent and difficult to get off it.
Even healthy people have found that small amounts can cause heart attacks and strokes; blood vessels in the brain can be badly damaged; snorting can eat away the tissues of your nose and by sharing snorting equipment can increase the chances of contracting Hepatitus C.
Using cocaine can lead to people feeling depressed, even paranoid, and violent because they are desperate to get more.
Worst of all - even small amounts of cocaine can make you stop breathing or cause seizures, heart failure - and death.
What's the law? Class A. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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You can also visit www.coca.org.uk
What is it? Crack is made by chemically treating cocaine, mixing it with baking soda and water, so that it can be smoked. It gets its name from the cracking sound made when it is smoked.
What is is like? It is produced as rock like crystals which are about the size of a peanut.
What does it do to you? The effects of smoking crack are similar to taking cocaine; the 'high' may be more intense but lasts less time. Crack users experience excitement and twitchiness, as with cocaine, but often become aggressive and paranoid. Smoking crack can cause lung problems that may cause the user to die.
What's the law? Class A. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? Ecstasy is a chemical with similar make-up to amphetamine and mescaline (a hallucinogen found in certain cactus plants). Its chemical name is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, usually shortened to MDMA. Because it is made in illegal laboratories, there are no checks on what it actually contains - other drugs like caffeine, ephedrine, amphetamine, ketamine or LSD are often found in it. Even deadly drugs like paramethoxyamphetamine PMA have been found in it.
What is it like? Ecstasy is commonly sold as tablets or capsules - often with symbols on them. Sometimes it is sold in powder form to be snorted.
What does it do to you? The way people react to ecstasy depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Like all stimulants, ecstasy can give you good and bad feelings. Users often find they have increased confidence and energy, but it can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, vomiting, stiffening of muscles in the jaw, legs and arm, plus panic attacks and epileptic fits. It is popular among clubbers because they find they can dance for hours without tiring. But it can raise the body temperature to dangerous levels; this coupled with dehydration from dancing and over hydrating the body can become dangerous.
What's the law? Class A. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? Small amounts of GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate) occur naturally in the brain. It is now produced in illegal laboratories and there is no way of knowing its strength or purity. It is also known as liquid ecstasy, liquid X and GBH.
What is it like? It is a clear liquid, usually sold in small bottles, and has no smell. Because of this there is growing concern about its use as a 'date rape' drug. Sometimes it is sold in powder form as capsules.
What does it do to you? The way people react to GHB depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. GHB is a depressant and some people feel the same after a capful as when they have drunk several glasses of alcohol.
But going from a dose that makes you feel more sociable and a bit light-headed to only a slightly larger dose can mean you are very vulnerable to sexual assault which you can't fight off.
GHB can cause nausea and vomiting, fits, and make you fall into a sleep like a coma increasing the chances death from choking on vomit.
What's the law? Class C. Maximum sentence for possession is two years in jail. Supplying?
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What are they? The words hallucinogen and hallucinogenic cover a wide range of drugs that include LSD, MDA, ecstasy, PMA, ketamine, 'magic mushrooms' and cannabinoids.
What are they like? Some are produced from natural substances like mushrooms, cannabis plants, cactus plants or flowers like salvia or deadly nightshade; others are chemical products originating in laboratories.
What do they do to you? The way people react to hallucinogens depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often they are used. Hallucinogens change the way people feel, see, taste, hear, smell and behave. Sometimes they are call 'psychedelic' drugs.
What's the law? Check under the individual drug.
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What is it? Heroin is one of what are called 'opioid' drugs, because they originate from the opium poppy. It can be smoked, snorted or mixed with water to be injected. It is easy to become dependent on heroin.
What is it like? Heroin is made from chemically-processed morphine. Pure heroin is a bitter-tasting white powder, but most users find what they buy has been mixed with other substances to become brown or off-white powder or a brown gum. You can never be sure of what else is in it and how strong it is.
What does it do to you? The way people react to heroin depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Heroin is a sedative that slows down the way your body and brain work; can reduce physical or mental pain. Users experience an initial surge followed by a longer period of feeling calm and relaxed that can last for hours.
People who become dependent on heroin have to use it about every 12 hours or less; getting a supply becomes an obsession and they experience diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, a constantly runny nose and twitchiness. Users often have difficulty sleeping. It is extremely dangerous if taken at the same time as other drugs, including alcohol.
Long-term use can change the way your brain works and the effects can last for years. Getting off heroin can be very tough. One method of treatment is being prescribed methadone by drug treatment service.
What's the law? Class A. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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What are they? Solvents such as glue are the most common, but users inhale a wide variety of substances, including gas from cigarette lighters, gas refills, cleaning fluid, aerosol hairspray, deodorants and paint thinners. Other inhalants originated for medical use, such as amyl nitrate (known as 'poppers') which was used to treat chest pains and cyanide poisoning; and nitrous oxide, a medical anaesthetic also known as 'laughing gas'.
What are they like? Many were invented for normal household use, are available easily from supermarkets and hardware shops.
What do they do to you? The way people react to inhalants depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often they are used. They are all taken in through the lungs, absorbed into the blood stream and travel to the brain.
Some are inhaled direct from the container, others from bags, cloths or balloons. Using inhalants is dangerous: some people suffocate when the gas freezes the back of the throat paralyzing it, they collapse with the bag still over their mouth and nose and are deprived of oxygen or inhale their own vomit; these products are highly flammable and there is a danger of setting yourself on fire; these substances can cause heart failure and damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, brain and other organs. In some users they lead to self harm and suicide.
What's the law? It is not illegal to own the household products, but it is an offence for shopkeepers to sell them if they believe they are going to be misused. Substances such as nitrous oxide should be given by health professionals only.
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What is it? Ketamine is a strong anaesthetic used by vets for operations on animals, but is also used on people.
What is it like? In its legal form it is a liquid for injection. Illegal ketamine usually takes the form of a coarse white power or tablet.
What does it do to you? The way people react to ketamine depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Not much is known about long term use but it can cause breathing and heart problems. Depending on the strength of the dose, some users find it means they cannot move at all. Mixing with alcohol or other drugs is particularly dangerous - pain is blotted out so you many not know if you injure yourself badly. Users feel as if their body is separated from their mind and have dreams or hallucinations - a bit like LSD. These feelings can last several hours.
What's the law? Class C. Maximum sentence for possession is two years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine.
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What are they? Magic mushrooms fall into two types. The most common is called liberty cap psilocybe; the more powerful is called amanita muscaria.
What are they like? Both types can be eaten raw, cooked or stewed and the liquid drunk. Psilocybe are small, tan coloured mushrooms that bruise to a blue colour when they are rubbed. Amanita muscaria are red and white spotted toadstools that look like deadly-poisonous toadstools - so using the wrong mushroom could make you seriously ill or even kill you.
What do they do to you? The way people react to magic mushrooms depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often they are used. Magic mushrooms are hallucinogens that give good or bad 'trips' similar to LSD. The trips are random and different people react differently to the same dosage at different times. The effect can last for more than half a day.
Both types of mushroom twist the way you see colours, hear sounds and see things. Time can suddenly be speeded up or slowed down. Amanitas can make you feel your mind and body are separated and make you twitchy and feel cold. Both types can make you feel nauseous, tired and bewildered. Using them can make matters worse if you have a mental health problem.
What's the law? Class A since 2005. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? LSD - lysergic acid diethylamide - is a powerful hallucinogen. Almost all is produced in illegal laboratories, with only a small amount made legally for research.
What is it like? It is usually sold soaked into small sheets of paper, often with pictures on them, which leads to many other nicknames for the drug - such as acid, blotters, lucy, smilies etc. It is also sold in liquid form.
What does it do to you? The way people react to LSD depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Taking LSD gives you what is known as a 'trip' because the hallucinogenic properties alter the way your mind sees things. Trips can last up to 12 hours and can be very vivid. They are always different and people experience both good and bad trips - but once they start there is no way of stopping them.
A bad trip can be terrifying and cause people to harm themselves (people have been known to believe they can fly). Some people get flashbacks some time afterwards, which are also frightening and dangerous. There is no evidence that LSD is addictive, although users quickly become tolerant of the drug and need more and more and can become detached from the real world. It can make depression and anxiety worse.
What's the law? Class A. Maximum sentence for possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? Methadone is the most common synthetic substitute for heroin. It is an effective long-acting drug prescribed by your GP or Community Drug Teams as part of treatment to turn round the lives of people who have become dependent on heroin.
What is it like? Methadone is usually prescribed as syrup that is swallowed. This avoids the dangers of injecting.
What does it do to you? The way people react to methadone depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used. Although it is laboratory-produced rather than coming from the opium poppy, methadone is an opiate and it is possible to become methadone-dependent.
Effects can start quickly and last much longer than a dose of heroin. As with natural opiates, methadone slows down the body and can give make you feel warm and relaxed and stops you feeling nervous. It makes the pupils of your eyes seem very small and can cause constipation.
High doses can make you feel very sleepy or even make you fall into a coma. You may experience bad reactions if it is taken at the same time as other drugs, including alcohol. Taking more than the prescribed dose can seriously harm or even kill you.
You may have to stop driving if you are taking methadone. Check with your GP and the DVLA.
What's the law? Methadone is legal only when prescribed by a doctor and taken under medical supervision. Otherwise it is categorised as a Class A drug. Maximum sentence for illegal possession is seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying is life plus an unlimited fine.
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Methadone information card.pdf
What is it? Methamphetamine - also known as Crystal Meth - is one of the family of amphetamine drugs, made in illegal laboratories. It is a powerful stimulant and has been described as one of the most dangerous drugs around today.
What is it like? Methamphetamine is produced as bitter tasting crystal-like powder or clear or opaque crystals. The powder can be snorted or swallowed. Dissolved in water or alcohol, it can be swallowed or injected. The crystal form can be smoked in the same way as Crack.
What does it do to you? The way people react to methamphetamine depends on factors like age, health, how much and how often it is used - but it can lead to dependency.
Initially, users experience a 'surge' - the length of time for it to kick in depends on how it is taken. Users can feel confident, full of energy and able to do without sleep or food. But it can also make people feel irritable, panicky and aggressive and chest pains, racing heart beat, sickness and diarrhea.
What's the law? Class A-Maximum sentence for possession will be seven years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Maximum sentence for supplying will be life plus an unlimited fine.
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What is it? Rohypnol is a tranquiliser that slows down the central nervous system and can make you sleepy and disoriented.
What is it like? It is legally sold as tablets in a 'blister pack' to make it look like a legal over-the-counter medicine. It is usually swallowed, but sometimes ground up and smoked. It can also be ground up and mixed into someone else's alcoholic drink - leading to it being called a 'date rape' drug.
What does it do to you? The way people react to rohypnol depends on factors like age, health and how much and how often they are used.
Those who use rohypnol regularly may find they need more and more to achieve the same effect and can become dependent on the drug.
Even with small amounts, and especially when used with alcohol or other drugs, the user can appear to be drunk - staggering around, with slurred speech and becoming very sleepy. It can cause loss of memory. This combination, and the fact that it is difficult to detect in alcohol, makes it attractive to people planning a sexual assault, as it can make the victim defenceless. Unprotected sex is a particular danger, with the possibility of catching HIV or a sexual disease. Because it is odorless and tasteless, manufacturers have started adding a blue dye to the tablets so when added to a drink it can be spotted.
What's the law? Rohypnol is not illegal if prescribed by a doctor and used only by the person it is intended for. You should never take drugs prescribed for someone else. Illegally supplying rohypnol carries Class C penalties: a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine.
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What are they? There are different types of steriod. Anabolic Steroids are synthetic drugs that are popular with sports persons to artificially enhance performance because they help to build muscle and enhance performance. Other steriods include corticosteroids which is often used to treat asthma, eczema and skin inflammations.
What are they like? They come in tablet form and also as a liquid that can be injected.
What do they do to you? Steroids are particularly dangerous for young people because they can affect normal growth. And all users can feel increased aggression spilling over into violence. Mood swings, depression, confusion and sleeping problems are common. There is also a risk of stroke, heart attack and liver failure.
If you are male, steroids can grow breasts, make your testicles shrink, cause erection problems and cause the development of acne.
If you are female, steroids can give you extra facial hair, a deep voice, shrink your breasts and cause menstrual problems.
If you are caught cheating at sport, you are likely to be banned for a period or even for life.
What's the law? Steroids are not illegal if prescribed by a doctor and used only by the person they are intended for. You should never take drugs prescribed for someone else. Illegally supplying steroids carries Class C penalties: a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine.
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